Krystle Mayo

Every Mother’s Day, moms around the world are honored for their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. But one group may not get as much attention as the rest: the moms-to-be.

Krystle Mayo, a former Chester resident, is one of those expectant mothers; later this month, she’ll be heading into Southside Regional Medical Center for a scheduled C-section.
“I’ll be going in on May 27, my father’s birthday,” she says. “We’re going to have a little boy.”

Impending motherhood has had its fair share of challenges and changes for the Mayo family. Since her pregnancy reached 26 weeks, Krystle Mayo has been on bed rest. “Also, my husband and I had to try to get on a budget, too and decide healthy ways to spend our money,” she says. “We’ve both had to try and grow up and learn how to communicate and compromise.”

Still, the challenges pale in the face of the enjoyment Mayo has about her impending motherhood. “The best part is every ultrasound,” she says. “It’s just the greatest feeling when you can see him there, and he’s moving.”

The daughter of older parents, Mayo is especially thrilled to be a young parent. “I know that I have a lot of energy there, and so I hope to do tons of stuff with my son. I’m really looking forward to watching him grow up. I’m ready for everything, even the all-nighters!”

Mayo’s family was elated to receive the news, too. “It was right around Christmas, and we’d just found out we were going to have a boy,” she says. “We have a lot of girls in the family, and everybody was just ecstatic.” And Mayo’s mother has been especially supportive: “She gives me confidence every day,” Mayo says.

As a first-time mom, Mayo has done everything she can to prepare. “I think I’ve bought every book on pregnancy at Books-a-Million!” she says with a laugh. “We took a baby care basics class at Southside, and we took a feeding class at Southside Regional. I think when I was around six months, we had my bags packed and sitting by the door – they have dust on them now, of course!”

At Southside Regional Medical Center, employees at the birthing center are just as enthusiastic about motherhood as the mothers themselves. “Working with so many mothers and seeing so many mothers, it just reminds me how much of a blessing motherhood is. It’s a blessing for both the mother and for the family,” says Shirley Woodleaf, clinical manager for labor and delivery and a mother of two. “It’s just such a miracle every time. Every birth experience is a miracle.”

For Dr. Keith Roberts, an SRMC obstetrician and father of two, building a long relationship with his patients is the most gratifying part of the job. “You take care of them from when they deliver their children through most of their lives,” he explains. “It’s great – it’s a very happy time for them.”

For expectant mothers, Woodleaf only has one piece of advice: “Education, education, education! Sign up for all the classes and get as much information as possible,” she says. “It’ll help you make informed decisions and you won’t be as anxious. Things will go much more smoothly if you know what to anticipate.” 

As the days creep towards Mayo’s delivery date, how does she feel? “Now that it’s getting closer for him to be here, I don’t even worry anymore,” she says. “I’m so excited!”

And as for Mother’s Day, Mayo admits it came to mind only recently. “It wasn’t until I saw a Mother’s Day commercial for Sears about a week ago that I said, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a mommy now!’” she laughs. “It was a real awakening moment for me.”

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